Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The "Glendora Garage"

[Dan in Pasadena]

Glad you made it back safe and sound. How did the Jeep do pulling the trailer over Siskyou Summit?
What's the backstory on the newest pup?

Thanks for the kind words. Yup, no drama and no issue with the Jeep. I never installed the Firestone airbags I bought but I didn't need them....much. Maybe a couple places where the road was beat up by semi's it got a bit "bouncy" but it didn't last long other than feeling odd.

Happy to hear that you've made it home in one piece. Enjoyed your travel log and agree that oregon is a pretty state.
(I've made the trip a few times when I owned body shops in Seattle) Having family over is always fun. I'm cleaning up the party garage for a wedding on Friday evening here today.

Thanks Don. I was under the impression your body shops were all in California. You never said that but I assumed and you know what that makes me, ha ha! How far and wide were you spread out at the peak of your business?

I'm SO impressed that a regular slob (in the nicest possible sense) like "us" GJ-er's got to be such a success.

Sounds like you've had some adventures during the last few weeks. They seem like for the most part, were enjoyable.

Yup, was a good trip and the only real trip of any distance I've taken since 2019 when we did a cross country RV trip to Key West towing the little money pit Fiat 500.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

We had my side of the family over Saturday for a pool party/BBQ. A LOT of bbq ribs, fresh corn on the cob and a dozen dishes of you-name-it that people contributed. Was fun.

On Sunday, we had my girlfriend's side of the family over to celebrate her mother's 100th birthday. It's incredible anyone lives that long. She's bed ridden now but she was overjoyed so many of her kids, grandkids, great, and great-great grandkids came. Truly a blessing to have such a devoted family. When one of your children is 80 snd the other seven are in their late 60's and 70's you know you've been around a long time!

Did a LOT of cleanup yesterday and today including moving the RV and boat around. Washed them, new tarp over the boat - unfortunately it may be another lost summer for boating. I can't imagine how much cleanup Don must have had to do in the BPG from a wedding!

Fixed the misaligned garage door sensors today (after a year of ignoring the issue!) MY BAD, my '55 was blocking them, DOH!

A lot of other little stuff that doesn't even register among GJ'ers and your skillsets but they all kept me busy.
Re-org'ed my yard tools on metal pegboard. Yeah, I'm not all that satisfied...I'll keep moving it around.


Thanks again for the kind words to all my "friends-I-haven't-met-yet".

 

[don long]

Dan
All my shops were here in So. Cal. in Walnut, Pomona, West Covina, Chino hills and Claremont.
That was 5 body shops and 3 tow companies All sold at 1 time to Caliber Collision back in 1999
Then in 2000 I partnered with a guy in Washington who had 2 body shops and we took him from 2 stores to 7 stores in 2 years and sold out the string of shops to the Canadians (Boyd collision)
While I was commuting back and forth to Washington I also took on a consulting job ( partnership) here in Van Nuys with the Keyes automotive group to design, build and run the most modern shop in the country and I agreed to do that as long as in 5 years they would buy me out and that started in 2000 thru 2005 and that's when I retired for good and moved here to start the party garage.

Hope that clears it up for you

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Don. Very very interesting career you've had. Not that you need it but applause for a truly successful career and life. Now back to garage stuff!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Front yard lantana grows unbelievably fast in the heat. It needed shearing before I left for Seattle on 6/26. The Milwaukee Quik-Lok makes fast, smooth work of it. Then I go back for pick ups with my little electric grass shears. The blooms will be back in about 3 days!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Front yard lantana grows unbelievably fast in the heat. It needed shearing before I left for Seattle on 6/26. The Milwaukee Quik-Lok makes fast, smooth work of it. Then I go back for pick ups with my little electric grass shears. The blooms will be back in about 3 days!

I wish lantana would survive here.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I think you mentioned once living in San Diego. As you know, lantana grows in SoCal almost like a weed and in a big variety of colors.

Does the winter cold kill it? It grows so fast in summer heat couldn't you keep small cuttings of it in a cold frame or hot house over the winter then plant it in the Spring and have it over the summer? Too much work I suppose for most people.

 

[kaymccampbell]

When I lived in Ocean Beach they filled the yard. Here on the tundra they are a weak annual at best. Without large heated greenhouses they don't overwinter, and trying to do a couple in the living room is just meh. I've got primitive roses and other wildish flowers all over. In my dotage, I just miss the lush burgeoning floral display of the lantana.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I took my '55 out for a 20 mile round trip drive to attend my grand daughter's 8th birthday pool party at a BIG pool place in Pasadena. It just doesnt get driven near enough and I knew I could watch where it would be parked.

Hot as hell in SoCal this weekend and while it has Vintage Air working just fine I don't have the AC outlets hooked to the hoses/outlets in dash. So it just blows straight down.....not too effective. I really need to get to fabricating a fiberglass valence under my dash for the outlets.

 

[don long]

She's lookin good Dan.
And it is hot here this week

 

[Jayman17]

Love your truck Dan, and that color too!

 

[rharman]

I took my '55 out for a 20 mile round trip drive to attend my grand daughter's 8th birthday pool party at a BIG pool place in Pasadena. It just doesnt get driven near enough and I knew I could watch where it would be parked.

Hot as hell in SoCal this weekend and while it has Vintage Air working just fine I don't have the AC outlets hooked to the hoses/outlets in dash. So it just blows straight down.....not too effective. I really need to get to fabricating a fiberglass valence under my dash for the outlets.

When you were in Pasadena, I'd always have an eye out for that truck when we were up that way. Sorry I never saw it in person.

Wife grew up in Arcadia and a couple of our doctors are in Arcadia & Pasadena. Rockler store, Northwoods Inn, "The Boat", and "The Hat" too. Yum.....

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

When you were in Pasadena, I'd always have an eye out for that truck when we were up that way. Sorry I never saw it in person.

Wife grew up in Arcadia and a couple of our doctors are in Arcadia & Pasadena. Rockler store, Northwoods Inn, "The Boat", and "The Hat" too. Yum.....

Oh than you very much for the kind words. You were REALLY a local to me at the old house. We were on Vinedo Ave north of the 210.
I LOVE poking around the Rockler store even though I am a truly lousy woodworker! Northwoods is my birthday go-to place and I love the fried chicken dinners at The Boat. I went there VERY often for a few seasons before I could get the Dodgers on my home tv. They ALWAYS had the game on one of their 27 giant tv's!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

She's lookin good Dan.
And it is hot here this week

You must REALLY be getting the heat in Temecula, right? Keep hydrated and keep a big *** fan on you in the BPG. I bought one of these 24" fans from Harbor Freight and even though it's noisy it does work well.

My stepson and I are going to the All Star game tomorrow and it's going to be DAMN HOT! Fortunately I THINK our seats will be out of the sun - fingers crossed. I'm not much of a beer drinker and I can only imagine the price tomorrow. Of course I'll want a souvenir or three so I expect a damn Coke to be like $10 or $12 in a souvenir cup. Hell, probably more!

Thanks Jayman. It's 2012 and newer Honda Milano Red. I wanted the darkest non-metallic red I could get that was clearly not burgundy. I love bright reds & Chevy Hugger orange - I ALMOST painted it two tone orange and a rich cream, but felt I might get tired of it after a few years.

 

[don long]

I'm about 30 miles north of temecula On the north side of the Cleveland national forest My property backed up to it when I bought it but the tractors came and moved the forest south about 1/2 a mile and built some homes behind me.

Infact Dan, I'm across the valley from you. Enjoy the ball game

 

[zmotorsports]

The '55 looks great as usual Dan.

 

[captain14]

Dan

Wave when the cameras on you. I’ll try to catch part of the game at home.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I’m up in Reserved a bit to the left (from outfield camera) from home plate. So you’d never see me. But thanks for the thought!!

 

[xtremek]

Did you guys enjoy the game? And yes, the truck looks very nice.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Did you guys enjoy the game? And yes, the truck looks very nice.

Thanks so much.

Truthfully, the game was kinda boring after about the first 3 innings when all the scoring took place. I went with my stepson (41) and an old co-worker woman (about 52) that is as much a dyed-in-the-wool Dodgers fan as I am. We've talked about them together since I met her in 1991. Started off great for the National League scoring the first two runs. But the American League has some absolute offensive horses to match ours.

I've been to any number of "sold out" Dodgers games but I've never seen it SO incredibly crowded. Plus with the heat and people's body heat it was humid, almost insufferable. Fortunately, I remembered to take a clean microfiber towel so I wet it and used it all day to keep cool. Thanks for asking.

PS: Going tomorrow night with the same woman friend to see them start the 2nd half of season vs. Giants.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

When our house was fully remodeled by prior owner in 2015 everything was done top notch BUT they forgot quarter round to cover about a 1/4” gap between the new wood flooring and the base cabinet kick space. It collected dust, etc.

My B-I-L is a project manager for a large contractor that does stadium kitchen areas. He had one of his subs make stainless base molding for us. They didn’t even charge him.

It might have looked odd if it weren’t that our appliances & cabinet hardware is all stainless. Anyway, I think it came out great.
Very pleased. Of course “measure twice” came into play. He cut one piece 1” too short! He’ll have another made and we’ll install that next weekend.

 

[PugetDude]

Looks great, Dan. How did they attach it?

 

[don long]

I agree that is a nice touch to the kitchen cabinets

 

[zmotorsports]

Very nice addition. Looks great.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

So last night I waited til it was almost dark to take my youngest dog, Fifi (18 mo) for a walk due to the terrible heat yesterday. 4 houses down the block she's suddenly PULLING me up a neighbor's driveway and wouldn't let up. I didn't see anything so pulled my phone out as a flashlight.

Found this damn critter crawling up the driveway. A FRICKIN TARANTULA! Holy moly. I had never seen one before and had no idea they live in ordinary suburbia. Yeah, my neighborhood adjoins wild hiking trails but I guess I always thought they lived in true desert. It was about the size of my palm. UGH.

Scrammed out of there and left it but I'll be REALLY careful about putting my hands under things in the yard from here on out.

Sorry for the crappy pics but flash didn't go off.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've lived in SoCal my entire life. Never had AC growing up. In evenings of very hot days we'd set up folding chairs in the driveway and hang out til house cooled. I remember very well that "hot" was over 100*. Maybe it got as high as 103 or 104*. We went camping in the high desert in Kernville, CA because of the river or Lake Isabella and there is where it got hotter.

This weather and how long it's lasting is just crazy hot. Don't know where the thermometer is on my jeep but it registered 120* today on air temp of 106* and it was 109* yesterday. It's "checking-on-the-cookies" hot. Like the oven blast you get in the face when you open the door to check them!

 

[don long]

Dan
You are so right. It is too hot to spend the day out in my shop. the bondo is hard before I can spread it on the el camino so I've been watching Yellowstone the series this weekend on T.V.

 

[xtremek]

Sorry to hear about the stiffling heat. Glad we're not that hot yet.

 

[PugetDude]

I've lived in SoCal my entire life. Never had AC growing up. In evenings of very hot days we'd set up folding chairs in the driveway and hang out til house cooled. I remember very well that "hot" was over 100*. Maybe it got as high as 103 or 104*. We went camping in the high desert in Kernville, CA because of the river or Lake Isabella and there is where it got hotter.

This weather and how long it's lasting is just crazy hot. Don't know where the thermometer is on my jeep but it registered 120* today on air temp of 106* and it was 109* yesterday. It's "checking-on-the-cookies" hot. Like the oven blast you get in the face when you open the door to check them!

Dan
You are so right. It is too hot to spend the day out in my shop. the bondo is hard before I can spread it on the el camino so I've been watching Yellowstone the series this weekend on T.V.

Wimps. That’s what it cools off to at night in PHX.

 

[don long]

Wimps. That’s what it cools off to at night in PHX.

I remember!! I lived there for 5 years as a youth and we only had a swamp cooler and fans.
We swam in the irrigation ditches and wore the same pair of cut offs all summer and no shirt

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I remember!! I lived there for 5 years as a youth and we only had a swamp cooler and fans.
We swam in the irrigation ditches and wore the same pair of cut offs all summer and no shirt

I never lived in Phoenix but as a kid in early-mid 60’s we’d wade in the …runoff? (I guess) ditches. They weren’t concrete lined like now. They had sloped sides and an old fashioned version of chain link fences literally covered in whatever kinds of vines. The bottom was muck that squished through our toes.

Probably had every kind of contamination known to man in it from raw sewage to DDT and everything else you can think of in there. We never got sick. Tons of pollywogs in there. I took a full bucket of them home once. Set it by a backyard hose bib that always leaked a little. We had frogs in our yard for years and years afterward! Lol.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

So THIS is happening - solar being installed on the house. The back of the house faces South so nothing will show from the street. They'll show from the pool deck but oh well.

We have lightweight concrete roof tiles which posed a problem in that they break easily. First installation company wouldn't guarantee they wouldn't break tiles - dumped them. Current installer agreed to mark each broken tile and replace with unbroken tiles from underneath panels, then replacement tiles (that don't QUITE match) will be put under the panels. The whole job has a 30 year warranty.

 

[DeeDubz]

nice pad op. Wife an I are going to get solar pretty soon. Its gonna cost a f ton. If im gonna put solar on my roof I should have the roof replaced.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

nice pad op. Wife an I are going to get solar pretty soon. Its gonna cost a f ton. If im gonna put solar on my roof I should have the roof replaced.

Thanks. If you go back near the beginning, about page 3 you'll see the patio being built a couple years ago.


Our system is supposed to result in our monthly bill going DOWN almost $150. We're very pleased. Hopefully it functions seamlessly once installed and turned on.

 

[DeeDubz]

My last electric bill was 800.... Luckily i married a sugar mama. Typically in the winter months our bills 200ish. We keep getting nasty grams from so cal edison. Like the patio. We're going to do a patio this fall.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks for the kind words, Dee Dubz!

Bought the house in Spring, 2020. Former owner is a contractor who bought it in 2015 and redid it intending to live here long term including adding 700 sq ft, raised the ceilings, new plumbing, electrical, HVAC. Then in 2018 he built the pool including the brick pilasters for the patio but then didn't build it....so it wasn't even 2 years old. But RE values were going up so he listed it and we agreed to buy it quickly. Good thing because we couldn't afford it now.

First summer was SO hot we needed a shade structure and since we loved the rest of the architect's design we decided to bite the bullet. But it was designed with a ceiling and the gable end sealed w/stained glass window near the peak matching front of house. We asked architect to re-design open to rafters, open ended gable. We're really happy we did it that way.

Our summer month bills were over $400 - YIKES, I can't even imagine $800 bills. This will be near $250/month. A big saving over the years.

 

[Bob Heine]

Dan, twenty-two years ago we replaced the cedar shake (termite food) roof, replaced the damaged plywood and opted for concrete tile. I hesitate to call the tiles lightweight at a little over 8 pounds each but it means a mild hurricane won't blow them away. Based on the pile at the end of the roof install, they broke quite a few tiles. Now those tiles are pretty brittle and I know solar installers would crack a bunch of them. I saved about 500 whole, undamaged tiles they were going to take to the dump so I have a potential fix but I'm going to wait a little longer to get solar.

The roof came with a 50-year warranty but the roofer went out of business (or changed the name of the business). Based on that experience I call BS on all these new players in the solar market offering 30 year warranties and promising to repair damage to the house. I ask them "How long have you been in business?" and they respond with how many systems they've installed this year. Sounds like confirmation that they don't have time to come back when the install goes bad. Besides, when you're 78, lifetime warranties are not impressive.

 

[don long]

My last electric bill was 800.... Luckily i married a sugar mama. Typically in the winter months our bills 200ish. We keep getting nasty grams from so cal edison. Like the patio. We're going to do a patio this fall.

I can only wish for an $800.00 electric bill. I's bet that my shop alone runs that high of a bill and I haven't mentioned the $300.00 per day bill to turn on the lights on the party garage (That an 8 hour time period)

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yikes Don! I can’t imagine your overall cost to maintain. Even forgetting the electrical bill, your water bill, paying the helper(s), re-stocking the sand paper, paint and tape cabinets, EEK.

BUT, what I love about seeing you place and projects is knowing you grew up an ordinary slob like the rest of us. I’m certain you must occasionally look around and think, damn I’m blessed. Thumbs WAAY up to you and your success!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Bob, you bring up great points. I’m almost certainly not going to be around at 97 to make a warranty claim on the solar system and even if I were who would I make it against? Sons of the sons of this solar company will be long gone.